The tamper included a diesel over hydraulic-driven power unit that supplies electrical current to operate 16 grinding stones, an operator's station and operation controls; two grinding carts equipped with a total of 16 fully-adjustable grinding assemblies and a water storage cart equipped with a water cannon for fire control and a remote pump for retrieving additional water.

"The three-month project included participation from three, new-hire, work equipment mechanics during their qualification period," explained KCS Director Production and Standards Shawn Vecellio. "The project gave the new employees an opportunity to demonstrate their skills and their managers, time to evaluate them."

"The original intent was to dedicate this unit for grinding of Panama Canal Railway, however after better than anticipated results with the rebuild, we think this machine will also perform well in the U.S.," said KCS Vice President and Chief Engineer Jeff Songer. "We recently did a test run over 30 miles of rail on the Shreveport Subdivision and it was very effective."